Folding platform for grain-binders.



Nn. 688,123. Patented nec. 3, leon. .1. J. scHAlLL & A. G. LEVALLEE.

FOLDING PLATFRM FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

(Application Bled June 27, 1901.)

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No. 688,128. Patented Dec. 3, |901. .L J. scHAlLL @L A. e. LEVALLEE.

FOLDING PLATFORM FUR GRAIN BINDERS.

(Application led June 27, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(No Model.)

nirTnD STATES Trice.

PATENT JOHN J. SCHAILL AND ALEXANDER G. LEVALLEE, OF TUSLER, MONTANA.

FOLDING PLATFORM FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,128, dated December 3, 1901. Application filed June 27, 1901. Serial No. 66,239. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. SCHAILL and ALEXANDER G. LEVALLEE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Tusler, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Folding Platform for Grain-Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a folding platform for grain-binders so constructed that it may be conveniently and quickly folded up to occupy a minimum amount of room or so that the binder may pass through as small a space as that required for the passage of a Wagon or like vehicle and so that the platform may be readily and expeditiously lengthened out for use.

A further purposeof the invention is to accom plish the foregoing objects without adding materially to the weight of the platform and to provide means whereby the binder-platform may be folded or unfolded on the field by a youth capable of driving the team drawing the machine.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved platform in the position for use. Fig. 2 is a rear 'elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the platform folded. Fig. 4t is an outer end view of the platform,the grain-wheel being in engagement with the ground; and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through a part of the platform at the front.

The platform is constructed in a series of sections, four sections being shown in the drawings-two end sections A and A and two intermediate sections B and B. Each section of the platform is provided at its front edge on its upper face with an iron 10, preferably Z-shaped in cross-section. The upper member 12 of each Z-iron extends horizontally in a forward direction, and the iron 10, secured to the inner end section A of the platform, is carried inward beyond the inner edge of the said section, as is best shown in Fig. 1.

The sickle-guards 13 are attached to the upper members 12 of the front irons 10 of the sections of the platform, so that the central sections may be folded upward and the end sections slid toward each other, which is the movement of the sections when the platform is to be closed up or reduced in length. Therefore it will be observed that each section of the platform is provided with an independent series of sickle guards. The sickle blade passes over the sickle-guards beneath extensions 13 from the upper member 12'of the forward iron 10, and this sickle-blade is made so that it may be carried upward without the central sections of the platform. The forward irons of the platform-sections are connected by hinges 14, and at the rear edge of each section of the platform an angle bar or plate 15 is secured. These angle bars or plates are connected by suitable hinges 27, as is also shown in Fig. 1.

A body-bar 16 extends from the outer end of the platform, and this body-bar is provided at its center with a slotted standard 17, in which the axle of the grain-Wheel 18 is mounted to slide, and said axle is held in adjusted position by a nut 19 or its equivalent. At the central inner section of the bow 16 a socket 2O is formed, and this socket is adapted to receive the standard 21 of a pilot-Wheel 22, which turns under the platform. This pilot-wheel is used only when the platform is to be folded, and at such time, as shown in Fig. 3, the grain-wheel is carried up in its supporting-standard 17 and is held in its upper position by an arm 23, which is pivoted upon the bow 16, bearing against the under side of the axle of the main Wheel. A suitable keeper 23a is provided for said arm when it is not in use. When the grain-Wheel is thus elevated, it clears all obstructions, and the outer end of the platform is supported by the pilot-wheel only.

Lugs 24 extend upward from the upper members 12 of the front irons 10 of the platformsections, and bars 25, extending longitudinally of the platform, are secured to these lugs in any approved manner. The bars 25 correspond in number to the number of sections in the platform, and their opposing ends are oppositely recessed to overlap a short distance, so that the central sections of the plat- IOO form maybe folded up to the position shown in Fig. 3 without the said bars interfering with one another; but the bar 25, which is carried by the outer intermediate section B of the platform, is connected by a hinge 26 with the bar which is carried by the outer' end Section A of the platform, the hinge being so placed that this hinged bar 25 may be folded inward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and this bar occupies the position shown in dotted lines when the platform is to be folded. Preferably the lugs to which the bars 25, carried by the outer intermediate platform-section B and end section A, are secured are slotted, so that when the hinged bars 25 are to be closed their pins or other bolts may readily enter the openings in the lugs to which they are to be attached.

Corresponding bars 29 are attached to lugs 28, formed by the rear irons 15, and the bars 29, carried by the outer intermediate section B and outer end section A of the platform, are connected by a hinge 30, so that the bar belonging to the outer intermediate section of the platform may be carried inward, as shown in dotted lines, when the platform is to be reduced in length, and the bars 29 are raised in like manner as the bars 25, heretofore referred to.

A bolt 31 is located at the rear o-f the platform adapted to prevent the sections from buckling when the platform is in working or horizontal position, and a corresponding bolt 32 is located at the front of the platform, as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, below ther sickle-guards, the bolts being connected with one sectionof the platform and their keepers to an adjoining section.' These bars 25 and 29l are adapted as supports for the edges of the usual conveyer-apron carried by a platform, and the said belt passes over rollers 33 and 34, journaled in the outer ends of the end bars 25 and 29, as is also best shown in Fig. 1. A winding-roller 35 is journaled in suitable bearings located upon the inner end portions of the inner irons 10 and 15, bracing the platform-sections. At one end of the winding-roller a polygonal section 36 is formed, adapted to receive a wrench or a handle for the'purpose of turning the roller, and at this end of the winding-roller a ratchet-wheel 37 is secured, which is engaged by a pawl 38. Cables 39 are secured to the winding-roller 35 and are adapted to be wound thereon. These cables extend along the bottom of the platformand are secured in any approved manner to the outer end section A. Slats 40 are also located at the bottom of the platform. These slats are secured at one end to the outer end section A of the platform, and the said slats at their inner ends have sliding and guided movement in slideways 41, which are secured to the under face of the inner end section A of the platform. Under this construction it will be observed that when the hinged bars 25 'and 29 are carried inward to thedotted position shown in Fig. 1 and the essaies bolts 31 and 32 are disengaged from their' keepers by turning the winding-roller 35 in a direction to wind the cables 39 thereon the end sections of the platform will approach each other, while the intermediate sections will assume the upper inclined position shown in Fig. 3, thereby materially lessening the platform in length and enabling the machine to pass through any openin g sufficiently large to permit a vehicle to pass. It is also evident that the platform may be folded or reduced in size on the field and by any person of ordinary strength without undue exertion.

When the platform is to be restored to its working position, the pawl 38 is disengaged from the ratchet-wheel 37 and the rear end of the platform is drawn outward, whereupon the weight of the upper ends of the central sections will cause these sections lto drop downward practically of their own accord and assume their normal position on the supporting-slats 40.

It will be observed that a platform constructed as set forth need not be materially heavier than an ordinary platform, and said lplatform will be equally as strong asa plat-t form made in one piece or section.

Having thus described our invention, weI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A harvester-platform constructed in fold ing sections having hinged connection, and sickleguards connected with each hinged section, substantially as described.

2. Aharvester-platform constructed in sections having hinged connections, and means substantially as described, for drawing the end sections horizontally toward each other 1 for the purpose of reducing the platform in length and elevating the intermediate sec# tions, and locking devices for the platform in its folded or inits working position, as set forth.

3. A platform for binders, constructed of a series of sections having hinged connections,- sickle-guards in independent series, each se'- ries of guardsbeing connected with one section of the platform, locking devices for the' platform, and a mechanism substantially as described, for drawing the end sections to\ ward each other and elevating the intermediate sections of the platform, as set forth.

4. A platform for binders, constructed in a series of sections having hinged connections,

a grain-wheel, a bearing for the grain-wheel essnzs 5'. In binders, a platform constructed of a series of hin ge-connected sections,the end sections being capable of movement toward each other and the intermediate sections capable of an upward movement, means for operating the said sections of the platform, rails at the bottom of the platform, attached to the outer end section, and slideways attached to the inner end section of the platform, in which the said rails have sliding movement, the rails being free from the intermediate sections of the platform, as described.

6. In. a binder, the combination ,with a platform constructed in a series of hinge-connected sections, and means, substantially as described, for operating the said sections, of sickle-guards secured to the forward end portions of the sections, and bars attached to the" forward and rear end portions of the sections, being adapted to support the edges of the platform conveyer-apron, one pair at the front and at the rear of the platform being capable of folding inward, and locking devices for the said sections, adapted to hold said sections in horizontal position, as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. SCHAILL. A ALEXANDER G. LEVALLEE.

Witnesses:

J. E. FARNUM, C. F. HEDGES. 

